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Cost & Benefits

Most affordable towns in Washington, 2026

Clarkston Heights-Vineland is the most affordable ranked town in Washington. Rent, the regional price level, taxes, and electricity are 22.5% each. Gasoline is 10%. A lower score is more affordable.

Summary

190
Towns ranked in Washington.
Clarkston Heights-Vineland
Number 1 in Washington. Rent is 13.3% of income. National rank 435.
21.1%
Median rent share among ranked towns in Washington.
0
Ranked Washington towns in the national top 100.
Lynnwood
Least affordable ranked town in Washington. Rent is 26.9% of income. National rank 5364.

Gasoline

$5.478

per gallon. EIA publishes this state price for the week of October 12, 2026. At 12,000 miles a year and 25 mpg, that is $2,629.44 a year for every ranked town in Washington.

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Cost & Benefits. "2026 Most Affordable Towns Index: Washington." October 16, 2026. https://costandbenefits.com/reports/most-affordable-towns-2026/washington

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Benefits and taxes in Washington

Top 25

  1. #1 in Washington · National #435

    Clarkston Heights-Vineland

    Rent share 13.3% · Price level 91.2 · Score 0.249

    Median rent is $1,125 a month and median income is $101,286, so rent is 13.3% of income, under the 21.1% median for ranked towns in Washington. The Lewiston, ID-WA metro price level is 91.2 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.478 a gallon (Washington). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  2. #2 in Washington · National #1480

    Toppenish

    Rent share 17.4% · Price level 95.5 · Score 0.336

    Median rent is $985 a month and median income is $67,854, so rent is 17.4% of income, under the 21.1% median for ranked towns in Washington. The Yakima, WA metro price level is 95.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.478 a gallon (Washington). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  3. #3 in Washington · National #1665

    Finley

    Rent share 14.3% · Price level 100.1 · Score 0.347

    Median rent is $1,099 a month and median income is $92,231, so rent is 14.3% of income, under the 21.1% median for ranked towns in Washington. The Kennewick-Richland, WA metro price level is 100.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.478 a gallon (Washington). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  4. #4 in Washington · National #1704

    Prosser

    Rent share 14.7% · Price level 100.1 · Score 0.350

    Median rent is $944 a month and median income is $76,985, so rent is 14.7% of income, under the 21.1% median for ranked towns in Washington. The Kennewick-Richland, WA metro price level is 100.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.478 a gallon (Washington). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  5. #5 in Washington · National #1709

    Terrace Heights

    Rent share 17.3% · Price level 95.5 · Score 0.351

    Median rent is $1,196 a month and median income is $83,016, so rent is 17.3% of income, under the 21.1% median for ranked towns in Washington. The Yakima, WA metro price level is 95.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.478 a gallon (Washington). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  6. #6 in Washington · National #1818

    West Richland

    Rent share 15.9% · Price level 100.1 · Score 0.358

    Median rent is $1,590 a month and median income is $119,892, so rent is 15.9% of income, under the 21.1% median for ranked towns in Washington. The Kennewick-Richland, WA metro price level is 100.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.478 a gallon (Washington). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  7. #7 in Washington · National #1822

    Connell

    Rent share 15.6% · Price level 100.1 · Score 0.358

    Median rent is $1,011 a month and median income is $77,721, so rent is 15.6% of income, under the 21.1% median for ranked towns in Washington. The Kennewick-Richland, WA metro price level is 100.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.478 a gallon (Washington). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  8. #8 in Washington · National #1832

    Otis Orchards-East Farms

    Rent share 14.6% · Price level 100.3 · Score 0.359

    Median rent is $1,189 a month and median income is $97,500, so rent is 14.6% of income, under the 21.1% median for ranked towns in Washington. The Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA metro price level is 100.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.478 a gallon (Washington). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  9. #9 in Washington · National #1890

    Clarkston

    Rent share 20.3% · Price level 91.2 · Score 0.362

    Median rent is $917 a month and median income is $54,152, so rent is 20.3% of income, under the 21.1% median for ranked towns in Washington. The Lewiston, ID-WA metro price level is 91.2 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.478 a gallon (Washington). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  10. #10 in Washington · National #2133

    Fairwood

    Rent share 15.8% · Price level 100.3 · Score 0.381

    Median rent is $1,208 a month and median income is $91,988, so rent is 15.8% of income, under the 21.1% median for ranked towns in Washington. The Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA metro price level is 100.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.478 a gallon (Washington). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  11. #11 in Washington · National #2256

    Pasco

    Rent share 17.2% · Price level 100.1 · Score 0.388

    Median rent is $1,227 a month and median income is $85,586, so rent is 17.2% of income, under the 21.1% median for ranked towns in Washington. The Kennewick-Richland, WA metro price level is 100.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.478 a gallon (Washington). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  12. #12 in Washington · National #2345

    Rochester

    Rent share 14.0% · Price level 103.7 · Score 0.393

    Median rent is $1,161 a month and median income is $99,286, so rent is 14.0% of income, under the 21.1% median for ranked towns in Washington. The Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA metro price level is 103.7 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.478 a gallon (Washington). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  13. #13 in Washington · National #2351

    Sunnyside

    Rent share 20.2% · Price level 95.5 · Score 0.394

    Median rent is $1,026 a month and median income is $60,923, so rent is 20.2% of income, under the 21.1% median for ranked towns in Washington. The Yakima, WA metro price level is 95.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.478 a gallon (Washington). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  14. #14 in Washington · National #2561

    Omak

    Rent share 15.7% · Price level 107.0 · Score 0.409

    Median rent is $1,002 a month and median income is $76,544, so rent is 15.7% of income, under the 21.1% median for ranked towns in Washington. The Washington state price level is 107.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.478 a gallon (Washington). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  15. #15 in Washington · National #2626

    Richland

    Rent share 18.4% · Price level 100.1 · Score 0.412

    Median rent is $1,468 a month and median income is $95,813, so rent is 18.4% of income, under the 21.1% median for ranked towns in Washington. The Kennewick-Richland, WA metro price level is 100.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.478 a gallon (Washington). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  16. #16 in Washington · National #2694

    Duvall

    Rent share 12.4% · Price level 111.1 · Score 0.417

    Median rent is $2,042 a month and median income is $197,361, so rent is 12.4% of income, under the 21.1% median for ranked towns in Washington. The Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro price level is 111.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.478 a gallon (Washington). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  17. #17 in Washington · National #2722

    Quincy

    Rent share 15.8% · Price level 107.0 · Score 0.419

    Median rent is $1,161 a month and median income is $87,902, so rent is 15.8% of income, under the 21.1% median for ranked towns in Washington. The Washington state price level is 107.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.478 a gallon (Washington). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  18. #18 in Washington · National #2746

    Manchester

    Rent share 16.5% · Price level 105.6 · Score 0.421

    Median rent is $1,740 a month and median income is $126,371, so rent is 16.5% of income, under the 21.1% median for ranked towns in Washington. The Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA metro price level is 105.6 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.478 a gallon (Washington). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  19. #19 in Washington · National #2754

    Country Homes

    Rent share 18.2% · Price level 100.3 · Score 0.422

    Median rent is $1,286 a month and median income is $84,653, so rent is 18.2% of income, under the 21.1% median for ranked towns in Washington. The Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA metro price level is 100.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.478 a gallon (Washington). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  20. #20 in Washington · National #2804

    Yakima

    Rent share 21.3% · Price level 95.5 · Score 0.426

    Median rent is $1,117 a month and median income is $62,815, so rent is 21.3% of income, over the 21.1% median for ranked towns in Washington. The Yakima, WA metro price level is 95.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.478 a gallon (Washington). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  21. #21 in Washington · National #2826

    Grandview

    Rent share 21.7% · Price level 95.5 · Score 0.427

    Median rent is $1,107 a month and median income is $61,106, so rent is 21.7% of income, over the 21.1% median for ranked towns in Washington. The Yakima, WA metro price level is 95.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.478 a gallon (Washington). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  22. #22 in Washington · National #2872

    Othello

    Rent share 16.1% · Price level 107.0 · Score 0.431

    Median rent is $882 a month and median income is $65,849, so rent is 16.1% of income, under the 21.1% median for ranked towns in Washington. The Washington state price level is 107.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.478 a gallon (Washington). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  23. #23 in Washington · National #2887

    Birch Bay

    Rent share 16.9% · Price level 103.3 · Score 0.431

    Median rent is $1,222 a month and median income is $86,854, so rent is 16.9% of income, under the 21.1% median for ranked towns in Washington. The Bellingham, WA metro price level is 103.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.478 a gallon (Washington). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  24. #24 in Washington · National #2891

    Union Gap

    Rent share 22.8% · Price level 95.5 · Score 0.432

    Median rent is $1,133 a month and median income is $59,651, so rent is 22.8% of income, over the 21.1% median for ranked towns in Washington. The Yakima, WA metro price level is 95.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.478 a gallon (Washington). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  25. #25 in Washington · National #2928

    Woodland

    Rent share 20.2% · Price level 97.5 · Score 0.434

    Median rent is $1,367 a month and median income is $81,193, so rent is 20.2% of income, under the 21.1% median for ranked towns in Washington. The Longview-Kelso, WA metro price level is 97.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.478 a gallon (Washington). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

Least affordable 10

  1. #190 in Washington · National #5364

    Lynnwood

    Rent share 26.9% · Price level 111.1 · Score 0.647

    Median rent is $1,742 a month and median income is $77,704, so rent is 26.9% of income, over the 21.1% median for ranked towns in Washington. The Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro price level is 111.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.478 a gallon (Washington). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  2. #189 in Washington · National #5352

    Tukwila

    Rent share 29.1% · Price level 111.1 · Score 0.645

    Median rent is $1,898 a month and median income is $78,381, so rent is 29.1% of income, over the 21.1% median for ranked towns in Washington. The Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro price level is 111.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.478 a gallon (Washington). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  3. #188 in Washington · National #5331

    Port Townsend

    Rent share 30.2% · Price level 107.0 · Score 0.643

    Median rent is $1,578 a month and median income is $62,606, so rent is 30.2% of income, over the 21.1% median for ranked towns in Washington. The Washington state price level is 107.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.478 a gallon (Washington). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  4. #187 in Washington · National #5288

    Parkland

    Rent share 27.6% · Price level 111.1 · Score 0.635

    Median rent is $1,663 a month and median income is $72,239, so rent is 27.6% of income, over the 21.1% median for ranked towns in Washington. The Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro price level is 111.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.478 a gallon (Washington). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  5. #186 in Washington · National #5270

    Ellensburg

    Rent share 29.0% · Price level 107.0 · Score 0.633

    Median rent is $1,340 a month and median income is $55,438, so rent is 29.0% of income, over the 21.1% median for ranked towns in Washington. The Washington state price level is 107.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.478 a gallon (Washington). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  6. #185 in Washington · National #5249

    Milton

    Rent share 27.3% · Price level 111.1 · Score 0.631

    Median rent is $2,199 a month and median income is $96,540, so rent is 27.3% of income, over the 21.1% median for ranked towns in Washington. The Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro price level is 111.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.478 a gallon (Washington). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  7. #184 in Washington · National #5245

    Pullman

    Rent share 27.2% · Price level 107.0 · Score 0.631

    Median rent is $1,062 a month and median income is $46,812, so rent is 27.2% of income, over the 21.1% median for ranked towns in Washington. The Washington state price level is 107.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.478 a gallon (Washington). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  8. #183 in Washington · National #5207

    Arlington

    Rent share 25.9% · Price level 111.1 · Score 0.625

    Median rent is $1,905 a month and median income is $88,231, so rent is 25.9% of income, over the 21.1% median for ranked towns in Washington. The Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro price level is 111.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.478 a gallon (Washington). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  9. #182 in Washington · National #5196

    Lakeland North

    Rent share 26.7% · Price level 111.1 · Score 0.624

    Median rent is $2,340 a month and median income is $105,216, so rent is 26.7% of income, over the 21.1% median for ranked towns in Washington. The Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro price level is 111.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.478 a gallon (Washington). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  10. #181 in Washington · National #5164

    North Lynnwood

    Rent share 25.5% · Price level 111.1 · Score 0.621

    Median rent is $2,145 a month and median income is $101,088, so rent is 25.5% of income, over the 21.1% median for ranked towns in Washington. The Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro price level is 111.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.71 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.478 a gallon (Washington). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

The formula

A lower score is more affordable. Rent share, the regional price level, taxes, and electricity each count 22.5%. Gasoline counts 10%. Those weights are our choice. Gasoline stays at 10% because the miles figure is one national standard, not a measured town commute. This is not a government standard.

A percentile is the share of ranked towns with a strictly lower number, divided by the number of ranked towns minus one. The lowest number scores 0. Tied numbers share a percentile.

  1. Rent share = (median monthly rent × 12) / median household income. Both figures are the Census 2020–2024 medians for that place.
  2. RPP-adjusted cost is the BEA 2024 all-items regional price parity. A basket priced at 100 for the U.S. average costs this many dollars in the town's area. We use the metro index when the county is in a metro BEA publishes. Otherwise we use the state index and say so. This index includes housing, so housing also shows up in the rent share.
  3. Tax burden is the average of three percentiles. Income-tax share is state income tax plus the stored 2023 local AGI add-on, divided by the town's median household income, on a joint return. Property share is the state's median effective property-tax rate times the town's median home value, divided by income. Sales rate is the combined state and average local sales-tax rate. We do not turn the sales rate into dollars, because that would require a shopping basket we do not have.
  4. Electricity is the state residential price in cents per kilowatt-hour. Every town in a state shares it. We do not guess how many kilowatt-hours a home uses.
  5. Gasoline is the EIA retail price for all grades and all formulations, in dollars per gallon. Where EIA publishes a state series, we use that state. Every other state uses the PADD region EIA assigns to it. Census does not publish commuting miles for these towns, so annual gas spend is 12,000 miles a year divided by 25 miles per gallon, times the price. That is 480 gallons, the same for every town. Those miles are our standard, not an ACS figure and not a government mileage rule. Because the gallons do not change, the gas percentile is the percentile of the price.

    Weekly prices are for the week of October 12, 2026, from the EIA workbook released October 14, 2026. File: https://www.eia.gov/petroleum/gasdiesel/xls/pswrgvwall.xls. Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, and Oregon use West Coast (PADD 5) Except California. That series is not in the weekly workbook, so those five use the monthly price dated September 15, 2026. File: https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_pri_gnd_a_epm0_pte_dpgal_m.htm.

    • State series, week of October 12, 2026: California, Colorado, Florida, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Texas, Washington.
    • Central Atlantic (PADD 1B), week of October 12, 2026: Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania.
    • Gulf Coast (PADD 3), week of October 12, 2026: Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico.
    • Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C), week of October 12, 2026: Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia.
    • Midwest (PADD 2), week of October 12, 2026: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Wisconsin.
    • New England (PADD 1A), week of October 12, 2026: Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont.
    • Rocky Mountain (PADD 4), week of October 12, 2026: Idaho, Montana, Utah, Wyoming.
    • West Coast (PADD 5) Except California, September 15, 2026: Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon.

Score = 0.225 × rent percentile + 0.225 × price-level percentile + 0.225 × tax score + 0.225 × electricity percentile + 0.10 × gasoline percentile. Rank 1 is the lowest score. If scores tie, the lower rent share wins, then the lower price level, then the place slug in A-to-Z order.

Questions

What is the most affordable town in Washington in this index?

Clarkston Heights-Vineland is number 1 of 190 ranked towns in Washington. Median rent is 13.3% of median income. Its national rank is 435.

How many towns in Washington were ranked?

190 towns in Washington have at least 5,000 people and published Census rent, income, and home value. Places missing one of those figures are left out.

Does this ranking approve benefits in Washington?

No. Cost & Benefits does not approve or deny benefits. The score is a cost comparison only.